How GDI Consulting Can Help You Win the JRTC MSS Contract

Introduction

The Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) is one of the U.S. Army’s premier combat training centers, located at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The JRTC provides realistic and challenging training scenarios for light infantry and special operations forces, as well as joint, interagency, and multinational partners. The JRTC also supports the Army’s transformation initiatives and the development of new doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures.

To support the JRTC’s mission, the Army has issued a solicitation for the JRTC Mission Support Services (MSS) contract, which will provide a range of services such as role players, exercise control, logistics, communications, information technology, security, medical, and administrative support. The solicitation number is W911S821R0017 and the estimated value is $400 million. The duration of the term is one year base plus four one-year options.

This is a highly competitive and lucrative opportunity for government contractors who have the experience and capabilities to deliver high-quality services to the JRTC. However, winning this contract will not be easy, as there are many challenges and requirements that need to be met. In this article, we will explain why GDI Consulting is the best partner for you to pursue this opportunity and how we can help you overcome the challenges and win the contract.

Historical Background

The JRTC MSS contract is not a new requirement, but a follow-on to a previous contract that was awarded in 2018 to Valiant Global Defense Services Inc., a subsidiary of Valiant Integrated Services. The previous contract had a ceiling value of $83 million and a performance period of five years. Valiant was responsible for providing role players, logistics support, communications support, information technology support, security support, medical support, and administrative support to the JRTC.

The previous contract was a recompete of an earlier contract that was awarded in 2013 to Cubic Global Defense Inc., a subsidiary of Cubic Corporation. The earlier contract had a ceiling value of $500 million and a performance period of five years. Cubic was responsible for providing role players, exercise control, logistics support, communications support, information technology support, security support, medical support, and administrative support to the JRTC.

Both Valiant and Cubic are expected to bid for the follow-on contract, along with other potential competitors such as General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Leidos Holdings Inc., CACI International Inc., Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation, and others. Therefore, it is essential to have a strong capture strategy and a compelling proposal to differentiate yourself from the competition and demonstrate your value proposition to the Army.

RFP Description

The RFP for the JRTC MSS contract was released on September 30, 2023 and the proposal due date is November 30, 2023. The RFP is divided into three volumes: Volume I – Technical/Management Approach; Volume II – Past Performance; and Volume III – Price. The RFP states that the award will be made on a best value tradeoff basis, considering the following factors in descending order of importance: Technical/Management Approach; Past Performance; and Price.

The Technical/Management Approach factor consists of three subfactors: Role Player Support; Exercise Control Support; and Other Support Services. The Role Player Support subfactor evaluates the offeror’s approach to providing realistic role players that represent various cultures, languages, ethnicities, religions, genders, ages, and physical characteristics to simulate the operational environment for the training exercises. The Exercise Control Support subfactor evaluates the offeror’s approach to providing exercise control personnel that plan, coordinate, execute, monitor, and evaluate the training exercises. The Other Support Services subfactor evaluates the offeror’s approach to providing logistics support, communications support, information technology support, security support, medical support, and administrative support to the JRTC.

The Past Performance factor evaluates the offeror’s recent and relevant experience in providing similar services to similar customers. The offeror must provide at least three past performance references that demonstrate its ability to perform the required services under the solicitation. The Army will assess the quality of performance based on customer feedback and other sources of information.

The Price factor evaluates the offeror’s proposed price for performing the required services under the solicitation. The offeror must provide a detailed breakdown of its price by contract line item number (CLIN), including labor rates, indirect costs, other direct costs, and fee. The Army will determine the reasonableness, realism, and completeness of the proposed price.

Who Should Participate

The JRTC MSS contract is a great opportunity for government contractors who have the following qualifications and capabilities:

• Experience in providing role players, exercise control, and other support services to the JRTC or similar combat training centers
• Ability to recruit, train, manage, and retain a large and diverse workforce of role players and support personnel
• Ability to provide realistic and culturally relevant scenarios and environments for the training exercises
• Ability to provide innovative and cost-effective solutions for the logistics, communications, information technology, security, medical, and administrative support requirements
• Ability to comply with the Army’s standards, regulations, policies, and procedures for the JRTC operations
• Ability to collaborate and coordinate with the Army and other stakeholders involved in the JRTC activities

If you have these qualifications and capabilities, you should consider participating in this opportunity. However, you should also be aware of the challenges and risks that you may face in pursuing this opportunity.

Challenges

Some of the challenges and risks that you may encounter in pursuing the JRTC MSS contract are:

• High level of competition from incumbent and other experienced contractors
• High level of complexity and scope of the required services
• High level of performance expectations and quality standards from the Army
• High level of security and safety requirements for the role players and support personnel
• High level of uncertainty and variability in the training exercise requirements and schedules
• High level of compliance and reporting requirements for the contract administration

To overcome these challenges and risks, you need a reliable and experienced partner who can help you with your capture strategy, proposal development, and contract execution. That partner is GDI Consulting.

Conclusion

The JRTC MSS contract is a strategic opportunity for government contractors who have the experience and capabilities to provide role players, exercise control, and other support services to the JRTC. However, winning this contract will require a strong capture strategy and a compelling proposal that differentiate yourself from the competition and demonstrate your value proposition to the Army.

GDI Consulting is the best partner for you to pursue this opportunity. If you are interested in learning further, contact us at www.gdicwins.com and let us help you in achieving success.